Form analyst Jason Teaz provides in-depth analysis of tonight’s meeting at Auckland (Friday). First race at 5.31pm.
Race 1
3 Prodigal Pete
6 Mighty Monica
9 Kayla Maguire
4 M T Pockets
Sheryl Wigg always dominates these races and she has a very strong hand here. She has chosen to drive PRODIGAL PETE. He was taken back off a wide gate May 21 but he is a better horse on the pace and has big gate speed. 1700m suits.
MIGHTY MONICA picked up the amateur race at Cambridge May 20 with a cushy run. Will be running on at the finish.
KAYLA MAGUIRE hasn’t flattered since winning in this company easily April 29. The draw doesn’t inspire much over this journey either. A place hope on ability.
M T POCKETS put together two good third placings in amateur company including one over 1700m and in 1:56. Not bad in a way tougher field last Friday. The only non Wigg who could win.
SWEET TREAT broke her maiden nicely here last year and was spelled after two runs in significantly stronger fields than she could cope with. Trial form has been adequate lately.
Race 2
7 Hector
6 Ideal Funding
4 Arden Velocity
9 Brother John
HECTOR pushed a very good one in Once Bitten close last week. Will have to work harder off an outside draw tonight but has started his career well.
IDEAL FUNDING drops back from racing in hot two year old company May 21. Had won two trials nicely prior and will appreciate racing maidens tonight. Certainly the value bet.
ARDEN VELOCITY placed second on debut May 21. Had to work overtime to lead then and won’t have to work as hard tonight from barrier four, definite each way.
BROTHER JOHN is here for the Winter Futurity series and was ultra impressive winning a workout at Pukekohe May 22 in 2:00 and included in the beaten brigade was subsequent maiden winner Once Bitten. Needs luck from the draw but can win.
LAURIE’S DELIGHT can’t make his own luck at this stage of his career and he is forever unlucky. Just needs the cards to fall his way to break his maiden. The blowout hope.
CHEVRON ART had to do it too tough sitting parked last Friday but should get better luck from barrier two tonight. Is the likely early leader.
Race 3
2 Hugo George
3 Chase The Gold
10 Kerri Maguire
8 Mailman
HUGO GEORGE rolled over the top of a few of these May 21 in amateur company. That was penalty free and draws similarly tonight. A big chance of going back to back.
CHASE THE GOLD is fresh up tonight since racing in very strong intermediate grade races at Christmas time. Only concern is that he hasn’t trialed. If ready, well and truly up to winning. Sliding blinds go on too.
KERRI MAGUIRE drops back in company tonight from mares company to this. Freshened since April 16 too when looking one paced. Fourth in a workout which hasn’t thrown up much form May 22 but sure to be ready.
MAILMAN is another fresh up since April. Stopped after trying for the lead last time and he is a horse better driven for one run so a juniors race may suit him and offset his eight draw.
ROUGH AND READY sat back last Friday and watched the fireworks then rolled over top of them when winning. A similar scenario could play out here but will he be that lucky twice?
THE BLUE BEAT gets barrier one again again tonight being the lowest rated. Ran out of her skin last Friday and has to be included for first fours again.
Race 4
10 Rocket Boy
5 Hesashorething
4 Murphys Reward
7 Ezana
ROCKET BOY ventures north with the Winter Futurity in his sights. Comes out of strong premier night company at Addington into this. Is a good chaser so the second row draw won’t hinder. Should be too strong.
HESASHORETHING surprisingly handed up meekly last week and paid the price when the horse in front stopped 500m out. Racing terrific and surely won’t be unlucky tonight.
MURPHYS REWARD rolled the dice on going forward and it worked out well when receiving a one out trail. That was his first race in nearly six months, so should have only improved.
EZANA was a little disappointing last week after getting to the front. Throw in the mix again although draw counts against him.
LORD VERDE struggled to make an impression last Friday also but prior runs had been strong. Consider.
JOHN WAYNE is much improved and did beat a strong maiden field May 21.
Race 5
6 Forget The Price Tag
7 Credit Master
5 Kings Landing
8 Woodstone
FORGET THE PRICE TAG ended his place getting run last Friday. He was badly held up but doing his best work late. He’s better going forward in his races and the addition of Tony Herlihy tonight is a massive plus. All the boxes are ticked tonight.
CREDIT MASTER is still searching for his best form. The old Credit Master would have won that race last week. 35m will test him but third up tonight should be one of his best this campaign.
KINGS LANDING is racing in good form. Was another forced to make ground out wide May 21 and goes back to 25m behind tonight. Not many will scare him off the handier handicaps though. Also likes the 2700m more.
WOODSTONE kept up his poor 2200m record last Friday. Only just defeated by American Pride May 13 over the same distance. 35m won’t be easy but don’t count him out in this class.
PRESIDENTIAL JEWEL is a 3:28 trotter and if she was to lead and roll along like she enjoys, she could make the back markers trot 3:25 to beat her which may be impossible.
KIMKAR DASH has run into brick walls since winning against a few of these three starts ago. If the mood is good then she is another who can make the back markers pay.
Race 6
8 Cheezel
9 J Bee
7 Folklore
1 Last Tango In Heaven
CHEEZEL comes north tonight. Third last time was on Oaks night at Addington and did it covering the world. Placed in both races she’s had here. Hasn’t won in eleven stands but may not have struck one as winnable as this.
J BEE is racing without luck. Had no hope at Cambridge May 20, then couldn’t get into it last week. Going way better than the form reads and is a each way hope.
FOLKLORE backed up the unlucky run at Addington with a huge win here last Friday in the North Island Breeders Stakes. Came from last. Like Cheezel is a bit of a sit sprint opportunist, but has placed from a stand and this isn’t scary opposition.
LAST TANGO IN HEAVEN qualified from a stand last month. A big hope off the front tape and he’s never out of the top three here in eight starts. Placed against quality three year olds in last three starts.
DANCE TIME took Krug’s scalp last week. This isn’t his go though. 35m and the stand is a bad combination for him. Chuck in for thin end of first fours.
Race 7
11 The Big Bird
2 I See Fire
12 Emma Frost
6 Full Of Hope
THE BIG BIRD is overdue a winning turn. Trotting more solidly than ever nowadays and was unlucky to miss a Jewels run. Doesn’t need to improve at all to win.
I SEE FIRE again broke when going well May 21. Can win this easily but manners are not his strong point.
EMMA FROST has been absolutely devoid of luck since winning the Group Three Breeders Stakes. Just consistently ends up in the wrong spot. Another win isn’t far away and this is a drop in grade.
FULL OF HOPE had a great run of things when last in Auckland in December 2019. Back with Paul Nairn nowadays but drops back from premier company at Addington. Galloped last week but that is a rare error in her form. A major chance.
TRIXTON TIME won the maiden trot last Friday. Did run second the start before May 11 against race winners. The horse who beat him Blink N Bones has since won again, so will keep up in this grade.
Race 8
7 Blitzembye
3 Zarias
10 Yorokobi
12 Melanion
BLITZEMBYE was huge last time. Galloped away but ran home in 55.6. Stormed home in 54 to win May 7. A huge chance of atoning for the gallop tonight.
ZARIAS was very plain fresh up May 21. Should have done better than a battling fourth from the passing lane. Should lead tonight and fitness should be better.
YOROKOBI is first up at Alexandra Park tonight. A Southern Supremacy runner up and was huge on premier night May 21 in defeat. If he handles the track he’s a top three certainty.
MELANION is unbeaten to date. Keeps stepping up but the draw hurts tonight. A place chance.
SANTA MARIA had a rival puncture her tyre May 7, so forgive that. Prior win was dominant. May have to overcome three or four back on the pegs tonight.
LOUIE THE PUNTER drops back from R57-69 to a r53 to 59 tonight. On that becomes a big chance to place.
Race 9
2 Whooshka
8 Willsherocknroll
1 Imelda May
3 Wet Flipflops
WHOOSHKA had trialled the house down prior to the first up run last Friday. Second behind Brother John in 2:00 at Pukekohe May 22 and beat home Once Bitten. Should dominate this.
WILLSHEROCKNROLL has to overcome the unruly but barrier eight seemed to work for her two weeks ago. Capable of a 58 half and a 27 quarter, which is better than many of these. The upsetter.
IMELDA MAY showed up at the trials prior to the debut run. Wound up parked there but should get way better luck trailing the stablemate tonight. The addition of Peter Ferguson will aid.
WET FLIPFLOPS struggled in her only look at Alexandra Park. Won’t strike a weaker line-up here though and did place behind Five Wise Men at the Cambridge workouts on Saturday.
THE MISSING SOCK hasn’t threatened in both starts here. Not sighted since February 6 and all of the removable gear has come off tonight. Watch.
Race 10
10 High In The Sky
6 Phoebe Majestic
2 Cyclone Lebron
5 Willis Graham
HIGH IN THE SKY sneaks into this race well tonight. Has been slugging it out against seven and eight win horses amongst others lately. 30m won’t be easy but should be winning.
PHOEBE MAJESTIC is the best of the maidens. Still learning her trade but is a filly going further than this.
CYCLONE LEBRON has placed in all five starts. Lacks a yard of speed and struggles a little around the last corner but is consistent and will be handy throughout. A place certainty.
WILLIS GRAHAM chased home Trixton Time last Friday. Getting better every start.
LOVE AND FAITH went the best race of her career last week in a nice field of intermediate trotters. Beat home High In The Sky but 30m and only being a three year old filly makes it hard for her to win but can place.
Best Bet: Race 5 (6) Forget The Price Tag
Each Way Value: Race 9 (8) Willsherocknroll
